LA Tech hoopster accused of theft after game against Hawaii

HONOLULU (KHNL) - From hoops to handcuffs. A Louisiana Tech basketball player travels to Oahu for a game and ends up in Honolulu police custody.

Kiara Young is accused of theft. It's a felony case because of the amount of merchandise she's accused of stealing.

Against the Rainbow Wahine two nights ago, the LA Tech guard recorded no steals in limited action.

Louisiana Tech's lady hoopsters took sole possession of second place in the Western Athletic Conference with a 89-71 victory over host Hawaii Sunday. In that game, freshman guard Kiara Young scored six points and grabbed three boards in 11 minutes of play.

The 19-year-old is accused of trying to score even more the next day.

Investigators say she walked into the Ralph Lauren store at DFS Galleria in Waikiki and stole more than $700 worth of polo shirts. Because of the value of the goods, officers arrested her on suspicion of second-degree theft, a felony.

The Alabama native spent Monday night not in a hotel room, but inside Honolulu's main police cellblock.

Louisiana Tech officials issued the following statement:

"Lady Techster freshman Kiara Young has been charged with shoplifting during the team's recent trip to Hawaii. Young has been suspended from the team indefinitely, and further comments on the matter will be made pending the completion of the investigation."

In 2015, the Federal government passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, allowing states to limit the amount of time that students take standardized tests. A similar bill is traveling through the Hawaii legislature.

In 2015, the Federal government passed the Every Student Succeeds Act, allowing states to limit the amount of time that students take standardized tests. A similar bill is traveling through the Hawaii legislature.